Blood sampling apparatus



Oct- 13, 1953 M. L. TURNER ETAL BLOOD SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 50, 1951 JOHN DOE` 072/ ezt CLU@ Q Patented Oct. 13, 1953 McGrew, Waukegan, Ill., assigner-s to Abbott Laboratories, .North Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofilllinois Application January'30, 1951, .Serial No. 208,561

(Cl. 12S-i276) 4 solenne. 1

This invention `relates to blood sampling ap- ,paratus, and more particularly 'to a disposable,

unitary, plastic blood ,sampling unit.

Included among the objects .and advantages 'of .the present invention vis a disposable syringe for collecting a sample of blood, Ywhich syringe also functions as a dropper, a centrifuge tube yand 'a test tube. Further, the device isa sterilized unit package adapted for `one and vonly one blood sample.

The general -apparatus used heretofore for blood sampling, consisted mainly lof a glass hypodermic syringe, and several test tubes including Icentrifuge tubes, test tube racks, medicine droppers, etc. The :glass syringe normally had a detachable hypodermic needle, and since the two were used to draw .blood fromthe patient, they had to be autoclaved with steam or boiled in water to 'insure sterility. 'Under the constant temperature Vchanges from suchsterilization, the glass syringes were only 'usable for about @D samplings. -Furthermore, the extensive handling of the syringes and tubes "for washing, sterilizing, and so fort-h,

including a large percentage of breakages, made A 2o vein, and the tubing clamp is slowly moved to the 'procedure unduly expensive.

A `major disadvantage rof the common blood sampling method is the transmittance 4of 'viral diseases, :such as hepatitis, from patient to patient due 'to faulty sterilization. Few medical lces or laboratories are equipped with high pressure :steam autoclaves capable pf giving adeguate sterilization of the equipment toprevent the transmitting of such viral diseases.

Generally, the present invention comprises a transparent, 4or at least a translucent, 4resilient plastic tube having one closed end, and an outlet at "the opposite end, and means on the outlet `available -for directing a -blood sample into the tube.

The device of the invention and the mode of operation thereof may be more fully understood by reference to 'the following description thereof,

and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an elevation of a device according to the invention in one operative position.

The blood sampling device illustrated comprises a main tube body l of resilient, clear extruded plastic, having walls suillciently strong to resume normal shape after being distorted. One end of the tube I0 is closed by a cylindrical plug l2, sealed therein by heat or solvent. The opposite end of the tube I0 is closed by cap I4 which is .z likewise sealedonto the tube. The cap I4 l*tapers toa small outlet neck 1'5, into which is sealed-a short `section of resilient extruded plastic tubing IS. A `tubing clamp 2'4 is placed on the tubing 1'6, and la needle .adapter I8 is sealed on the Jouter end of the tubing I`6. A small tubular cap '2li lits over 'the needle adapter., and the end thereo is closed by 'apiece of sterile cotton 22. The tubing clamp 2l as.. shown is a thin piece-of'metal having a tapered slot 26 available for'pinching the tube.

After assembly, the device is sterilized and packaged in .a suitable containerfor shipment to a point of use. In operation, the sampling device is 'bent or folded double, as yindicated in the conguration of Figure `3, and the tubing clamp 24 is moved to .force the tubing 'into Ythe narrow end 'oi the s101126, closing the tubing. In the Adistorted shape, the volume 'of the tube 'l 0 is materially decreased. Closing the outlet tubing while thevol- .ume is thus decreased and releasing the main tube leaves apartial vacuum in the sampling cle-- vice. 'The cap '20 then removed, and `a hypodermic needle '2.8 is attached vto the needle 'adapter it. The needle is then inserted into a patients open position. The partial vacuum of the device assists in drawing blood from the `lziatients vein into the sampler.

Alternatively, without any pinch clamp, the user can merely double up the tube, as indicated in Figure 3, and hold it inside yhis hand, collapsed by manual pressure, while the needle Ais inserted. Then "it is 'only necessary to release the pressure on the body to initiate the withdrawal of blood.

When suiiicient blood has been drawn into the lsampler, 'the pinch'clamp'is again -moved to closed position, and the needle withdrawn from the patients vein. The needle is :disassembled 'from v'the device, and the device may be sent tothe laboratory for blood testing.

Where required, the clamp in the device may be opened, the sampling unit inverted, and by gently squeezing the main tube l0, drops of blood may be dispensed where desired, as for samples for various blood tests. The whole unit may be placed in a centrifuge for separating the blood cells from the plasma. With or without centrifuging, the top may be severed along line l-I, leaving a small plastic test tube which will stand upright, due to the square base formed by the plug l2. A small weight 23 may be embedded in the bottom of plug I2 to increase stability.

Especially in sizes up to 20 ml., with commercial plastic tubing 0f an inside diameter of the order oi magnitude of 5/8 of an inch and a wall thick- `with the pinch clamp 2li.

3 ness of .05 of an inch, a simple tube has enough mechanical strength to exert a substantial suction and expedite the flow of :blood into the device so that the time required to take the sample can be substantially reduced.

In a large hospital where many samples need to be taken, the devices can be picked in individual boxes or in sets of a dozen or more, separated by paper partitions, each device carrying an identification tab a'ixed thereto. Such a tab may be a mere strip of paper i5, with a little adhesive on one side, wrapped around the body Il] near the top, with a portion projecting as indicated at 2l. For packaging, the projecting portion 2i can be conveniently wrapped around the body.

Thus the operator pulls one of the devices out of the carton, writes on the tab such identifying indicia as may be desired, fills the device with the patients blood and seals the iilled container The container is then a non-breakable, completely identified unit, which can be put back in the original package from which it is withdrawn or accumulated in a pocket or basket and delivered to the laboratory, fully identified and ready for processing.

In the laboratory, each of the devices can be -put into a centrifuge without removing the tab; centrifuged out oi along-,the line --I and placed upright on a laboratory bench, where it will stand firmly While the laboratory worker makes any desired tests and inspection and fills out a report for the use of a medical staff.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use .under varying conditions of service, by employing one or more oi' the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof. As at pres-ent advisedwith respect to the apparent scope of our invention, we desire to claim the following subject matter.

We claim:

l. A fluid sampling and dispensing device of the character described, comprising: a substantially transparent, cylindrical, tube of resilient plastic material; a plastic disc substantially nor- .mal to the axis of said tube and closing one end of said tube to denne, with. the encircling tube end, a plane standing base; a cap closing the other end of said tube; said caphaving a large portion encircling said tube andsealed thereto;

4a taperedportion and a .coaxial neck of relatively 2. A disposable blood sampling device of the character described, comprising; a substantial cylindrical tube of deformable resilient plastic material completely closed at one end, the other end of said tube partially closed with a tapered axial outlet therethrough extending away from said tube, a length of small diameter flexible plastic tubing extending outwardly from the said axial outlet, said tubing having a hypodermic needle adapter means on the outer end thereof and being the only inlet and outlet for said tube, and providing unobstructed access to the interior of said tube, a clamp on said tubing for closing said'tubing, and a protective cover over said adapter means to prevent bacterial contamination after said device is sterilized, said tube returning to substantially its original shape and exerting a suction force after being compressed, thereby assisting the now of blood into said tube.

3. A disposable blood sampling device of the type described, comprising; a resilient cylindrical tube having one end sealed closed and the other end partially closed with an axial outlet of smaller diameter than the said tube extending therethrough and projecting outwardly therefrom, said axial outlet providing unobstructed communication with the interior of said tube, a length of flexible tubing extending outwardly from the end of said outlet, said tubing having at the outer end thereof means for detachably securing a hypodermic needle thereto for communication with a fluid source, and a protective cap mounted on said means to prevent bacterial contamination, said tube returning to substantially its original shape and exerting a suction force after being compressed, thereby facilitating the collection of the fluid sample.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the length of flexible tubing has mounted thereon intermediate the ends thereof, a tubing clamping means, said clamping means being adjustable to form a gas impermeable barrier between the interior of the said tube and the surrounding atmospherev while the tube is compressed; thereby retaining within the said tube the partial vacuum formed when the tube returns to its original shape after being compressed.

MILTON L. TURNER.

ROBERT F. MCGREW.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,124,285 Brown Jan. 12, 1915 1,668,588 Greeley May 8, 1928 2,290,857 Booge et al. July 28, 1942 2,404,316 Sack s July 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 573,611 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1945 

